07/12/44.
After killing the Boss in the dungeon, she carried Caelan out of the dungeon by a teleporter she found in the back of the room. When she was teleported to the beginning of the dungeon she carried his body to a place where she was capable of burying him with a tombstone. Saddened at the fact of not being able to protect someone, she subconsciously squeezed her hands.
"I'm pretty sure you were an NPC Caelan, but on the off chance that you weren't...I'm sorry I let you down." She spoke to herself.
She looked over at her companion and noticed that she was a little bigger. Experience must be the way for her to grow. Speaking of, she felt a tad bit stronger due to the intense battles in the dungeon. She looked back at the grave and sighed. She headed off to head back home. Since the Lich was killed, the forest might go back to normal so she would have to be a bit more careful.
However, during her trip home, she noticed enemies were staying away from her and Astra, almost as if they feared her, some running away. She shrugged it off, it was probably the armor doing it, but it made the trip home a bit easier without fighting anything.
07/13/44
Just like before, it took a full day to return to the small home she had built at the forest's edge. As Elara stepped inside, the familiar surroundings offered a small measure of comfort. She removed the heavy armor piece by piece, allowing herself a moment of respite.
After resting briefly, she turned her attention to her workbench. The battered beta armor she'd worn before the dungeon lay before her, a reminder of its failure against the Lich's unrelenting power. Examining it closely, she confirmed her suspicions: the damage was beyond repair.
Sighing, she began dismantling it, melting the fragments down into ingots. The forge's glow illuminated her face as she worked with practiced efficiency. "At least this won't go to waste," she muttered, setting the cooled ingots aside for future use.
Just as she finished, a voice called out from outside the house. Wiping her hands, she stepped around the corner to find two women standing at the door.
"...May I help you two?" Elara asked, her tone neutral as she studied them.
"You're MoonLight, right?" one of them asked.
"Mhm. And you are?" Elara replied.
"I'm CreamCream, and this is ZionZe," the woman introduced. "We were told you could upgrade equipment for less than most."
Elara raised an eyebrow. "Depends. Do you have the materials? And what exactly are you looking for?"
ZionZe stepped forward, placing a pile of materials and armor at her feet. "How far can you get this with what we brought?"
Kneeling, Elara examined the items, running her fingers over the materials and the gear. The answer came to her instinctively, without the need for a system menu. She stood and crossed her arms. "I can upgrade all of this to Rare quality for 600 void coins."
The two women exchanged a glance, then nodded. "Looks like they were right," ZionZe said. "You do charge less for upgrades."
Elara grabbed the items and motioned toward her workbench. "It'll probably be done by the end of the day," she informed them.
"That fast?" CreamCream asked, her surprise evident.
Elara shrugged. "I don't get much business, so I can fulfill orders quickly." She smiled faintly, though inwardly, she already felt the interaction dragging on. Careful not to let her impatience show, she added, "I'll let you know when it's ready."
Satisfied, the two women stepped back, leaving Elara to her work. As she turned to the forge, she exhaled slowly, grateful for the chance to focus on something productive.
As she anticipated, fulfilling the order took the entire day. Elara's forge glowed with the dying embers of her efforts as she handed off the completed gear to CreamCream and ZionZe. Grateful for her craftsmanship, they handed her the promised payment with a nod of approval before heading off.
Elara exhaled, her gaze drifting to the hammer in her hand before settling on the imposing armor resting nearby. The armor radiated an intimidating presence even in the dim light. Without much thought, she acknowledged what she already knew—upgrading it would be a distant goal.
Shaking off the weight of the day, she tidied up her workstation, ensuring every tool and material was in its proper place, before heading inside for some much-needed rest.
"Astra, come here, girl," she called, her voice softening as her dragon companion padded over. Elara smiled, running her fingers gently along Astra's scaled head. "I think we should head into the city tomorrow, see how everyone's holding up." She scratched under Astra's chin, eliciting a playful huff as the creature stretched and yawned.
Feeling the day's exhaustion settle into her bones, Elara guided Astra to the bed. As the room dimmed into silence, the two drifted into a peaceful sleep.
07/14/44 (Morning)
Morning brought a sense of calm as Elara prepared breakfast for herself and Astra. After their meal, she took a quick bath, shaking off the lingering fatigue from the previous day. She donned her armor and equipped her gear before heading out, the sound of her footsteps blending with the quiet rustle of the forest around her.
The city bustled with activity as she arrived, its inhabitants steadily adapting to their situation. On her way in, a notice board caught her eye, displaying various updates and quests. One notice stood out: the Betas were holding a meeting at noon. Filing the information away, Elara continued through the streets, noticing the wary glances cast her way.
Some people paused, whispering among themselves, while others outright stared at Astra and the menacing aura of her armor. She ignored the attention, her focus on the tasks ahead. After a few minutes of wandering, she decided to search for side quests to earn additional income or valuable items.
One request caught her attention: a bounty on goblin ears. Fortunately, she had collected a decent amount during her travels. Turning in the bounty, she earned 500 void coins—enough to replenish her stock of healing potions. Since she lacked the materials to brew her own, this was a welcome opportunity.
As noon approached, Elara made her way toward the meeting location, her thoughts wavering between curiosity and caution. Whatever the Betas had to say, she intended to hear it firsthand.
A growing crowd gathered at the amphitheater, eager to listen. She settled near the back, observing as the number swelled to nearly five hundred. Once the last few stragglers arrived, the Betas took their places, and the discussion began.
"Alright, alright, everyone quiet down," a man clad in black armor called out, his voice carrying over the murmurs. "We're starting the meeting now." He turned to another man, dressed in red and white armor. "Belway, it's all yours."
Belway stepped forward, scanning the gathered players. "As you all know, this is no longer the game we signed up for. What was once a standard immersive experience has turned into a death game. If we die here, we die in real life—because of the helmets we're wearing."
A hushed murmur swept through the crowd, but Belway continued. "Those of us who played before release—the Betas—have come together to help as many of you as possible adjust to full-dive mechanics. We've compiled tips and strategies to assist, but the latest update has made things significantly harder. The game is now as realistic as possible in a world of monsters and magic. That means no visible stats, no hunger or thirst meters. We have to rely on our instincts, our own judgment, and physical testing to gauge our abilities."
He paused briefly before adding, "To help with this, the Betas have agreed to party up with anyone who needs guidance in combat—both offense and defense. If you need assistance, come see one of us at the end of this meeting."
A man in purple armor spoke next. "We're also asking everyone to spread the word—do not attempt to fight the level boss yet. We have no idea how strong it is. The developers themselves are controlling the bosses now, meaning all previous strategies are useless. They've changed everything."
Another Beta, clad in green armor, stepped forward. "To counter this, we're forming a guild dedicated to training and coordinated boss assaults. If you're interested in joining, let us know. Additionally, if you come across a dungeon, do not go in alone. The risks are too high."
Belway took the floor again, his tone grim. "One more thing—there have been reports of players killing other players. Whether these individuals are unhinged or outright murderers, we don't know. But if you witness such behavior, report it immediately. We will deal with them."
The meeting continued for another thirty minutes. The Betas shared strategies, answered questions, and emphasized the importance of communication and teamwork. By the end, the message was clear—survival depended on preparation, cooperation, and vigilance.
As the meeting finally came to an end, Elara turned to leave. But just as she stepped away, she caught something in the corner of her eye—Belway. He was staring directly at her.
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She stopped, turning her head to meet his gaze. For a long, tense moment, neither of them looked away. A silent standoff. Then, with a quiet exhale, she broke eye contact and continued walking out of the amphitheater.
Belway watched her retreating figure, his expression unreadable. "Visage, do you know who that player is?" he asked, his voice low. His eyes lingered on the figure clad in dark armor, accompanied by a young dragon.
The man in purple armor—Visage—shook his head. "I don't, but I can find out for you if you want."
Belway nodded. "Do it. I know she's a beta tester, but I've never heard of any beta having a dragon hatch from their egg."
Visage raised an eyebrow. "Neither have I. That's definitely new. But yeah, I'll look into it, boss." With that, he turned and headed out.
Meanwhile, Elara let out a quiet sigh as she made her way back to her home in the forest. She was already exhausted—too many people, too many stares. She had never been fond of crowds, and the city was suffocating.
"I should make a few weapons and armor to sell," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. "I think I'll hit the mines. What do you think, Astra?"
She glanced down at her companion, the small dragon at her side. Astra snorted, flashing what could only be described as a grin.
Elara chuckled. "Yeah, I knew you'd agree."
She gathered her mining gear, adjusting the straps on her pack. Even though the day was growing late, she decided to head back to the city—her destination, the mines. Fortunately, she knew a few safe spots where she could rest inside, so food and shelter wouldn't be an issue.
With one last glance toward the treetops, she set off, Astra padding along beside her.
Elara took the long route to the mine near the city, deliberately avoiding any crowded paths. She wasn't fond of interacting with people, but her goal outweighed her discomfort—she needed materials to craft weapons for those who required them. It would take time, and yes, she'd have to deal with others, but providing quality gear was more important than her anxiety.
Upon reaching the mine, she made her way down to the 49th level. Her target was raw adamantine—the strongest metal available at this stage of the game, essential for repairing their beta armor. The level was home to Giant Ants, Slimes, Goblins, Hobgoblins, and a few other creatures, but those were the most common threats. She was confident in handling them, so danger wasn't a concern.
Stepping out of the elevator, she proceeded down the dimly lit tunnels, scanning the walls for veins of raw adamantine. The ore couldn't be refined into pure adamantine, which intrigued her—typically, in past games, adamantine was known as the strongest metal. Yet here, it was labeled raw, implying there was more to uncover about its properties.
The deeper veins took longer to regenerate due to the number of miners that had passed through before, forcing her to venture further in. She could only hope the regeneration system still worked.
Lost in thought, she was suddenly snapped back to reality by a distant scream—high-pitched and desperate. A woman.
Without hesitation, she looked down at Astra. "Find them."
The young dragon lifted her snout, sniffing the air before taking off at a sprint. Elara followed close behind.
Four minutes of running led them to a large cavern where two tunnels intersected. In the center, four players were backed against the rock wall, encircled by ten hobgoblins. Two of the players were severely injured—the one clad in armor looked battered and barely standing, while the cleric beside him was visibly drained.
Elara didn't waste a second. She charged forward, slamming her shield to draw attention.
The hobgoblins flinched at the sound, hesitating as their fearful eyes locked onto her. Still, they stood their ground. Two of them snarled and lunged at her, swords raised.
She met them head-on. With a swift maneuver, she deflected one attack with her shield while parrying the other with her sword. The hobgoblin that struck her shield suddenly shrieked in agony, clawing at its head as if something unseen tormented it. Wasting no time, Elara brought her sword down in a brutal overhead strike, cleaving its skull in two.
The second one barely had a chance to react before she drove her boot into its gut, sending it stumbling backward.
Seeing their new threat, the remaining hobgoblins overcame their hesitation and rushed at her.
But before they could reach her, spectral hands erupted from the ground, grasping their ankles in a ghostly vice, freezing them in place.
Elara smirked beneath her helmet, glancing at Astra. The little dragon grinned in delight before inhaling deeply and unleashing a massive cone of fire.
The flames engulfed the hobgoblins, their screams echoing through the cavern before they were reduced to charred remains.
Elara sheathed her sword, turning to Astra with a satisfied nod. "Good girl."
Astra looked up at her with bright, gleaming eyes and let out a happy puff of smoke.
Elara hurried over to the group, concern etched across her face. "Are you guys alright?" she asked, digging through her bag for healing potions. She handed over everything she had, hoping it would be enough.
The armored man gave her a grateful nod before downing one of the potions. Meanwhile, the cleric knelt beside the two unconscious players, carefully helping them drink. A sigh of relief escaped her when she saw their breathing steady.
"I don't think we would've made it if you hadn't shown up," the female cleric admitted, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
"Yeah, perfect timing," the armored man added. "Those things ambushed us out of nowhere. We barely had a chance to react before they nearly took us out."
"Hezula and Greenburger are still alive," the cleric reported, glancing at their injured companions. "The potions took care of most of their wounds, thankfully."
Elara crossed her arms, watching them settle beside their unconscious friends. "You said they ambushed you?"
"Yeah," the armored man confirmed. "We were just mining, same as usual, when suddenly—hobgoblins everywhere. Hezula and Green were attacked first, and, well... you saw how that turned out."
"They were probably the easiest targets," Elara noted. "I can escort you back to the elevator if you'd like."
The armored man exhaled, shaking his head. "I'd be a fool to say no. Thank you. Is the rest of your party on the way?"
She shook her head. "No, it's just me and my companion here." She patted Astra's head, earning a small, pleased rumble from the dragon.
He studied her for a moment before nodding. "Well, an extra body is better than none." With that, he hefted one of his unconscious teammates onto his back, while the cleric did the same.
Elara took the lead, guiding them through the tunnels. Astra trailed behind, keeping a vigilant watch on their surroundings as they made their way toward safety. When they came to another intersection, she stopped in the middle of the room and looked around.
"Astra, guard them. We have unwanted company," Elara commanded, her voice steady as her eyes locked onto the lurking figures in the shadows.
The armored man tensed. "What? Are you sure—?"
Before he could finish, five hobgoblins emerged from the dark recesses of the room, their eyes gleaming with malice. A moment later, ten more slunk out from the adjoining tunnels, surrounding them.
Fifteen hobgoblins.
Elara clenched her jaw. This was going to be tough—defending four injured players while taking on an overwhelming number of enemies. She flicked a glance toward the group before focusing on the approaching threat.
"Alright," she muttered, raising her shield. "Let's see who comes out on top."
She slammed her shield with her sword, the sharp clang echoing through the cavern—a taunt.
The hobgoblins took the bait.
With guttural snarls, they surged forward, their charge faltering slightly as hesitation flickered across their faces. But one by one, they pressed on, encircling her.
The first blade came down. She deflected it effortlessly with her shield. Another slashed toward her side—she pivoted, dodging, and countered with a swift strike, her blade slicing clean through the first hobgoblin's neck.
The dim lighting worked in her favor. The creatures struggled to track her movements in the shadows, their strikes growing wilder, more desperate. She wove through them with practiced precision, parrying their attacks and delivering swift, calculated blows in return.
Another fell. Then another, and another.
Their weapons glanced off her armor, but she barely registered the hits. The enchantments on her gear absorbed most of the impact, and with every strike she landed, a small portion of her health regenerated.
She didn't even need to use magic.
This was nothing more than a warm-up.
With a smirk hidden beneath her helmet, Elara readied her next strike, her sword gleaming under the faint glow of the cavern's crystals.
The real fight had only just begun.
From one of the connecting tunnels, a much larger hobgoblin emerged. The creature towered over its fallen kin, its thick, muscle-bound frame covered in crude armor. A jagged crown of rusted metal sat atop its grotesque head, confirming its identity.
A Goblin King.
Its face twisted in rage as it surveyed the carnage, yellowed fangs bared in fury. The ambush made sense now—this thing had been leading them, commanding from the shadows.
Elara squared her stance, tightening her grip on her sword. So you were the one calling the shots.
She didn't wait. With her shield raised, she charged, aiming straight for its chest.
The Goblin King reacted instantly, crossing its massive forearms in front of its body to absorb the impact. The force sent it skidding back a step, but it held its ground.
With a guttural snarl, it lashed out with a powerful swipe.
Elara barely dodged in time, pushing back just as the King's clawed hand slashed through the space where she'd stood moments ago. The creature roared, drawing the massive, crude blade at its waist and lunging forward.
Elara met it head-on.
She raised her shield, bracing for impact as the heavy sword came crashing down. The blow rattled through her arms, sending a shockwave up to her shoulders, but she held firm. The force activated the enchantment on her shield, releasing a ghostly wail that reverberated through the cavern.
The Goblin King flinched, staggering from the eerie sound. But unlike its lesser kin, it shook off the fear effect quickly, regaining focus with an enraged growl.
Elara didn't give it a chance to recover. She swung her sword in a deadly arc, aiming for its exposed side.
Metal met Metal.
The Goblin King parried, using its brute strength to force her blade downward, pinning it against the rocky ground.
Elara clicked her tongue. Strong.
Before it could capitalize on the opening, Astra let out a shrill cry from behind. The young dragon darted forward, her claws glowing faintly as spectral energy swirled around them.
The Goblin King barely had time to react before Astra slashed at its leg, spectral claws raking deep wounds into its flesh.
The beast howled in pain, stumbling backward.
Elara ripped her sword free, using the opening to pivot around and slash at its exposed back. Her blade bit deep, black blood spraying across the cavern floor.
The Goblin King reeled, turning wildly in an attempt to retaliate, but Elara was faster. She ducked under its wild swing, slamming her shield against its knee. The joint buckled, forcing the creature to one side.
It tried to recover—but Astra was already in position.
With a triumphant roar, the dragon inhaled sharply before unleashing a concentrated burst of fire straight into the Goblin King's face.
The flames engulfed its head, the intense heat charring flesh in an instant. The beast let out a final, strangled scream, its massive body thrashing before it collapsed in a smoking heap.
Silence settled over the cavern.
Elara exhaled slowly, lowering her sword. Her muscles ached, and adrenaline still coursed through her veins, but she was victorious.
She turned to Astra, who sat proudly beside the charred remains, her tail flicking back and forth.
"Good work," Elara praised, resting a gloved hand on Astra's head.
The dragon let out a pleased trill, nudging into her touch.
Behind them, the rescued adventurers watched in awe, still catching their breath.
"Remind me never to piss you off," the armored man muttered.
Elara chuckled, sheathing her blade. "Let's get out of here before anything else decides to show up."
With Astra keeping watch, she led the weary group toward the safety of the elevator.